Mine prop assemblies



Nov. 14, 1961 w. wlLKENLol-l ETAL 3,008,298

MINE PROP AssEMBLIEs Filed Sept. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 14, 1961 w. wlLKx-:NLOH Erm. 3,008,298

MINE PROP ASSEMBLIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 17, 1959 fmfemarg Maak Mw@ tats The present invention relates to mines and more particularly to prop arrangements which are used to support the roofs of mine galleries.

Such prop arrangements conventionally include elongated prop assemblies which extend paral-lel to each other. During the working of the mine face the prop assemblies are advanced from time to time, and this is done by lowering one of an adjacent pair of prop assemblies, advancing the lowered assembly, then raising it, lowering the other of the pair of assemblies, and advancing the latter to a position alongside of the previously advanced assembly, and then raising this other assembly. ln this way, as a result of the alternate advancing of adjoining prop assemblies the roof is supported at all times.

The prop assemblies cannot be advanced without didiculty. They tend to slip, fall, and tip over. It has therefore been proposed to interconnect the pairs ot adjoining prop assemblies so that one will guide the other during advancing thereof. However, the result has been that as a result of the interconnection of a pair of adjoining propassemblies, the prop assembly which is lowered preparatory to being advanced is necessarily pulled toward the other prop assembly so that the lowered prop assembly' tilts over toward the other prop assembly Iand it is extremely ditlicult to advance the prop assemblies under these conditions.

lt is accordingly an object of the present invention to avoid the above drawbacks by providing a pair of adjoining prop assemblies with a means enabling one prop assembly to guide the other without any tilting of the lowered prop assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure extending between and connected to a pair of elongated prop assemblies to guide each prop assembly during advancing thereof while at the same time limiting each prop assembly to vertical movement in a substantially vertical plane between its lower inoperative and upper perative positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, rugged structure capable of aecomplivshing the above objects and at the same time operating reliably under the ditlicult conditions present in mine galleries.

W ith the above objects in View the present invention ineiudes in a prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries, a pair of elongated substantially parallel prop assemblies located beside and spaced from each other. The sides or" these prop assemblies which are nearest to and directed toward each other respectively carry elongated substantially horizontal guide bars, and at least one pivot means is longitudinally shiftable along each guide bar. A pair of crank arms extend across the space between the prop assemblies, and these crank arms respectively have one of their elongated ends turnably carried by the pair of prop assemblies and the other of their elongated ends turnably carried by the pair of pivot means, respectively, land these ends of the crank arms tu-rn in vertical planes whi-le moving downwardly during lowering of the prop assembly to which they are connected.

The novel .features which are considered as characteristie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as 3,ll8,298 Patented Nov. 14,1961

ICC

to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best yunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments when read inv connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevation showing the top end of a pair yof prop assemblies interconnectedwith the structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the structure of FIG. l, all except one of the elongated roof-engaging caps of the prop assemblies being omitted `from FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity; and

y FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the upper portion of the interconnected prop assemblies.

Referring now to the drawings, a pair of elongated prop assemblies A and B are illustrated therein. Each prop assembly in the illustrated example includesy a pair of props each of which is capable of being expanded or contracted in a known way as by a suitable hydraulic structure. Thus, the props 1 and 2 of the assembly A and the props 10 and ll of theassembly B are diagrammatically indicated. As is indicated for the propll in FIG. 3, each of the props has an upper hemispherical end, shown at 11a for the prop 11 in FIG. 3, yand the top ends of the several props turnably support the head plates 5, respectively, these head plates being xed at their undersides to members 5a (-FIG. 3) formed with recesses mating with and receiving the top ends of the props, respectively. A plurality of springs 6 (FIG. 3) are distributed around each prop, are txed to the head plates 5 as well as to the props and serve to maintain the head plates 5 in horizontal position. The head plates 5 are stepped at their opposite sides, as shown in FIG.. 3, and these steps serve to support the elongated roof-engaging caps. Thus, FIG. 3 shows a pair of cap members 7 on opposite sides of the plate 5 of the prop 11. The caps 7 are provided in elongated sections pivotally'interconnected at their ends as shown at 8 in FIG. 2. In the same way, the head plates 5 o-f the props 1 and 2 of the assembly A support at their opposite sides elongated cap members 3 pivotally interconnected at their ends, as shown at 4 in FlG. l. Only one elongated cap 7 is shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarity.

Each of the elongated parallel prop assemblies A and B includes a suitable base structure connected to the bottom end of the props. For example, the pair of props of each assembly may be carried by a common runner capable of sliding along the iloor of the mine gallery.

In accordance with the present invention a means is provided interconnecting the pair of prop assemblies A and B so that they can be alternately advanced without any tilting, and in particular without lateral tilting resulting from pulling of the lowered prop assembly toward the raised propv assembly. This means includes a pair of elongated guide bars 12 and 13. The head plates 5 each have downwardly directed end walls, and the guide bar 12 is iixedly carried by the downwardly directed rear ends of the plates 5 of the assembly B while the guide bar 13 is carried by the downwardly directed front end walls of the assembly A. It will be seen that the front walls ofthe plates 5 of assembly A extend toward assem` bly B at the side of the assembly A nearest to assembly B, vand the guide bar 13 is carried by these portions of plates 5 of assembly A which are located nearest to assembly B. In the same way the guide bar 12 is tixedly carried by portions of the rear walls of plates 5 of assembly B which extends toward and are located nearest to the assembly A. Thus, the guide bars 12 and 13 extend substantially horizontally and are respectively carried by the prop `assemblies at the sides thereof which are nearest t0 and directed toward each other.

A pair of pivot means are respectively carried by the 3 guidebars for longitudinal shifting therealong. Each of the guide bars 12 and 13 may be in the form of a hollow rigid tube, and the pivot means 17 include a sleeve shiftable along and through which guide bar 13 freely extends while the pivot means 16 includes a sleeve shiftable along and through which the guide bar 12 freely extends. Each of the pivot means 16 and 17 includes a first pivot pin Xed to and extending downwardly from the sleeve which is slidable on the guide bar, a sleeve turnyable on this rst pivot pin, and a sleeve fixed perpendicularly to the sleeve on the pivot pin and located beneath and extending perpendicularly with respect to the sleeve on the guide bar. Thus, each pivot means has a pair of turning axes which are perpendicular to each other and which are both perpendicular to the guide bar.

A pair of crank arms extend across the space between the pair of assemblies A and B, and these crank arms 14 and 15 respectively have one of their elongated ends pivotally carried by the pair of assemblies A and B and the other of their elongated ends pivotally carried by the pair of pivot means 16 and 17, respectively, and these ends of the crank -arms will turn in vertical planes during their downwardmovement upon lowering of one or -the other of the prop assemblies, as will be apparent from the description which follows. As is particularly apparent from FIG. 2, the crank arm 14 has one elongated end be used with any prop assemblies.V The length of the guide bars 12 and 13 must be at least as long as the distance through which each assembly is advanced. Also, it is possible to locate the structure of the invention adjacent the lower ends of the prop assemblies in which case the guide bars would be connected to the lower ends of the props or to the bases of the prop assemblies.

It will be understood that each of the elements described labove, or two or more together, may also iind a useful application in other types of mine props dilering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in mine yprop guides, it is not intendpivotally carried by a pair of ears of the rear wall of the left head plate 5 of the assembly A, and the other end of the crank arm 14 is turnably carried by the pivot means 16 which is shiftable along the guidebar 12,. The other crank arm 15 is turnably carried at one of its elongated ends by a pair of ears of the front wall of the forward plate 5 of the assembly B, and the other elongated end of the crank arm 15 is carried by the pivot means 17, this structure being shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be noted that the elongated ends of each crank arm are parallel to and odset with respect to each other and are perpendicular to the guide bars, and each crank arm has between its elongated ends an intermediate portion extending Y If the prop assemblies are to be advanced by first lower;

ing Vthe assembly A, for example, then the crank arms 14 and 15 will assume the positions shownin FIG. l. During lowering of the assembly A the pivot means 16 and 17 slide respectively along the guilde bars 12 and 13, the pivot means 16 shifting to the left in the direction of arrow P and the pivot means 17 shifting to the right in the direction of the arrowV P'. Now the lowered assembly A is shifted in a known way toward the mine face to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the assembly A will in this Way reach the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 2. During this movement of the assembly A the pair of pivot means shift respectively on the guide bars through the same distance as the assembly A. Thus, the pivot means 16 will slide along the stationary guide bar 12, while the pivot means 17 will be held stationary due to the connection of the crank arm 15 to the assembly B, and the guide bar 13 will slip through the pivot means 17 to the dotted line position indicated in FIG. 2. During this operation the lateral distance between the pair of prop assemblies A and B remains unchanged. When the assembly A has reached the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2, the props thereof are expanded so that the top of the assembly A is raised to its operative position pressing against the roof, and the above procedure is repeated with the assembly B to bring the latter alongside Vof the assembly A.

Of course, any desired number of crank arms may ex-V tend between the assemblies A and B. Also, the means interconnecting the assemblies, as described above, may

ed to be limited to the details shown, since various modiiications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will sc 'fu-lly reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it o-r various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or speciiic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such `adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and rance of equivalence of the fol-lowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to -be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and lthe like, comprising in combination, a pair of elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from cach other, said prop assemblies being lalternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered t-o enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively xedly carried by said prop assemblies and located along the sides of the latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and a pair of c-nank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotal'ly carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly dur-ing llowering of .the top end of the prop assembly to whichY they are connected.

2. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comp-rising in combination, a pair of elongated prop assemblies vextending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end o'f one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantial-ly horizontal guide bars respectively iixedly carried yby said prop assemblies and located along the sides of Ithe latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shitable respectively along said guide bars, each of said pivot means having a pair of mutually perpendicular turning axes both of which are perpendicular to the guide bar carrying said pivot means; and a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot mean-s, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly during lowering of the top end of the prop assembly to which they are connected.

3. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comprising in combination, a pai-r of elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof ofthe gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively xedly carried by said prop assemblies and located along the sides of the latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and `at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly during lowering of the top end of the prop assembly to which they `are connected, said crank arms being respectively located in a substantially horizontal plane substantially parallel to the roof lof the gallery when both ofthe prop assemblies are in their operating positions pressing against the ga-llery roof.

4. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comprising, in combination, a pair or" elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly, each assembly including at least -a pair of props each carrying at its top end a head plate and each supporting on said head plate a pair of elongated parallel cap members respectively located on opposite sides or" the prop axis; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively iixedly carried by said head plates and located along the sides of said prop assemblies which are nearest to and directed toward each other; ya pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly during lowering of the to-p end of the prop assembly to which they are connected.

5. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comprising in combination, a pair of elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively xedly carried by said prop assemblies and located along the sides of the latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively,

and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectivel said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly during lowering of the top end of the prop assembly to which they are connected, said ends of each crank arm extending substantially parallel to each other while being oiiset with respect to each other.

6. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comprising in combination, a pair of elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively iixedly carried by said prop assemblies and located along the sides of the latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when said ends move downwardly during lowering of the top end of the prop assembly -to which they are connected, said ends of each crank arm extending substantially parallel to each other while being oiset with respect to each other and the ends of said crank arms being perpendicular to said guide bars.

7. A prop arrangement adapted to be used in mine galleries and the like, comprising in combination, a pair of elongated prop assemblies extending parallel to each other while being spaced from each other, said prop assemblies being alternately longitudinally movable so that when the top end of one prop assembly is lowered to enable said one prop assembly to be longitudinally moved the roof of the gallery will be supported by the other prop assembly; a pair of parallel substantially horizontal guide bars respectively iixedly carried by said prop assemblies and located along the sides of the latter which are nearest to and directed toward each other; a pair of pivot means longitudinally shiftable respectively along said guide bars; and -a pair of crank arms extending across the space between said assemblies, pivotally carried at one of their ends by said prop assemblies, respectively, and at their opposite ends by said pair of pivot means, respectively, said ends of said crank arms being elongated and turning in substantially vertical planes when saidends move downwardly during lowering of the top end of the prop assembly to which they are connected, said ends of each crank arm extending substantially parallel to each other while being oiset With respect to each other and the ends of said crank arms being perpendicular to said guide bars, each crank arm having between said ends thereof an intermediate portion extending perpendicularly to said ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 849,537 Germany Sept. 15, 1952 1,014,945 Germany Sept. 5, 1957 786,331 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1957 

